VITORIA, Spain – The Basque militant group ETA ended a decades-long campaign of terror, announcing a permanent cease-fire Wednesday that closes the door on one of Western Europe’s last armed separatist movements.

In a videotaped statement, three shrouded ETA members said they were laying down their weapons to promote democracy in the northern Spanish region. The news prompted jubilation across Spain, where ordinary citizens say they can hardly believe the end has come for a group blamed for more than 800 deaths and $15.5 billion in damage since the 1960s.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who has made granting more rule to Spain’s regions a key goal, expressed caution and hope at ETA’s statement.

“Any peace process after so many years of horror and terror will be long and difficult,” he told parliament. Zapatero said that until now, Spain’s political parties had been joined in pain over ETA violence. “Now I trust we will be joined in hope.”

The cease-fire was seen as a huge victory for Zapatero, but his critics maintained a hard line, saying they would fight to ensure the government does not give too much away.

“One cannot pay a political price for peace. If we were to do so, terrorism would have won,” said Mariano Rajoy, leader of the conservative opposition Popular Party.

ETA, established in the late 1960s, campaigned to carve out an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France.